Community
30 May, 2025
Community shows support for farmers, CFA
AS the fight against the State Government’s Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund levy continues across the state, the township of Derrinallum has created a visual display to show support for farmers and Country Fire Authority (CFA) volunteers.
The elms along the avenue in Main Street have been given yellow ribbons, with a group of four mannequins set up on the western side of the town.
Resident Carrie Miller said all materials for the display were sourced locally, with a total of $110 used to purchase the material used on the trees.
“Everything else was donated – the clothes were all donated by the local op shop, the CFA uniform was donated by CFA members, and Derrinallum Creative Gifts opened up their doors and gave us the use of the premises and all of their crafts gear to make the mannequins,” she said.
“We had local farmers who came in and donated the gates, the hay bales and the wool packs.
“Some of the clothes came from the farmers too.
“It was all donated by locals and put together by a combination of locals and farmers.”
Ms Miller said the main goal of the display was to show support for farmers and CFA volunteers who will be affected by the new levy.
“The idea behind it, more than anything is to show support – there were a few of us sitting together thinking about how we can show support for the situation we’ve currently got, and we came to the conclusion that sharing and banners on Facebook doesn’t really work,” she said.
“We thought a visual representation on the highway to show our support for what’s going on – these are all our main arterials.
“People think it’s just about the CFA and the farmers, but it’s about everyone – what’s happening is going to affect all of us, and I think everybody realises that and they want to show support for this movement.
“It’s the town’s way of showing they support it and they’re behind it.
“The levy will affect all of us. This is not just a farmer problem or even a country problem – it’s a problem for the entire state.”
Ms Miller said she was “so proud” of the community for showing their support and encouraged residents to add to the display with their own creations.
“There’s plenty of real estate in those elms there – people are more than welcome to add to the display if anyone’s feeling creative,” she said.
“They don’t need permission – just go and do it.
“Get behind it. Turn these highways yellow.”
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